Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1887-01-29
WRECK AND RUIN.
A Schooner Dashed to Pieces
Near Golden Gate HarbCr.
Fifty Tons OF Giant Powder in
the Vessels Hold Explode.
The Famous Cliff House Bur1si-A Huge
Coal Breaker Burned-Gther Notes.
A TerribIc Wreck.

A Terrible Wreck.
SAN Francisco, CAL, Jan. IG-At AtmiIuight
the merchants exchange received telephone
message from Point Lobrs signal station. stat
Ing that the schooner Parral had been driven
On the rocks near Golden Gate and probably
would prove a total loss.
An hour later another message was received
stating thar an immense quantity OF giant
powder aboard the vessel had blown up, de-
stroying the Cliff house and other buildings on
shore in the neighborhood
The Parral sailed FRIDAY with a cargo Of gen
srai merchandise Tor Astoria. Oregon, and pro
ceedec north until compelled by strong head
winds 10 return. She reached the entrance 70
Golden Gate Yesterday evening. The wind
nad died ont and being caught by a strong
tide the vessel was swept ashore az the snuJn
END 0t Point LObps. inside the famous seal
rocks opposite the Cliff houSe.
TTE ,FEW ESCAPE - BOATS.
The iif~ -ayin. station people near by were
promptly notified ana ha-t-ned 20 the scene Of
The wreck. Ile captain and all hands aboard
nau taken to The boats. but a. iJ was imUOssi-
Die for them 20 make . landing ia the heavy
surf then running they stood away for au en-
trance 70 the harbOr.
After being abandoned the vessel drif5ed
south INTO i small cove where she pounded
against tie rocks and az midnight was rapidly
breaking up. It was known that she had !
large quantity Of powder aboard, but no dan
ger was appreheGded.
The men from the life saving station seeing
nothing could be done. ana knowing the
schooner had been abandoned b. her officers
and crew. Withdrew az few minutes before
o'clock from the scene.
F8IGHTFUL EXPLOSION OF POWDER.
The men had hardly reached the station
building when a fearful explosion occurred.
anor i4rr a Gfr-rg- -fI.r 81.
schooner, in beating against the rocks, had
caused the powder to ignite and the entire
quantity aboard, nearly 100000 pOuuis, had
exploded.
TO those living in the neighbOyhood the
effect was frightfUl. The signal station was
completely demolished and the Iifesaving
station was wrecked, while the west side Ol
the Cliff house. notwithstanding its elevation.
was blown OUT and every window pane IN the
building broken. i large concert room on
the beach AMI other buildings lower down
had all their windows broken and were other
wise more or less damaged. The long car
rage shed adjoining the Cliff house was tum-
hled into mass OF ruins. AdCiph ZettrO's
conservatory, on the heights above. was SiI,t-
tered to atoms and all the windows in the
house broken.
LIFE SAVERS BADLY INJURED.
Three members Of the life-saving crew. who
built the fire on the beach.and decided 10 re-
main near the wreck, were hurled into the air
BY the conclusion and severely injured by be-
ing again dashed 10 the earth. The remaining
members OF the crew, who had returned to the
station. rushed TO the rescue Ofshe injured,
as il was feared their close proximity 10 the
explosion must have rosulted to their injury
They carried them To the station, where med
ical attention was summoned and everything
necessary 10 relieve their injuries was done.
One of the men, Horace Smith, nad his
limbs 50 frightfuily di, joined as to make his
n -
despaired OF. The two Others, Charles Rogers
and John Wilson, escaped with less serious
injuries
HOW TIE EXPLOSION FELT.
CIrtain HaysiOp, in command of the life
saving station, describes the explosion as
follows: "At I O'Clock the sieepers were
thrown from their beds bv the great explosion
which made them think that the earthquake
had upheaved the cliff or tidal wave swept
from the Pacific. A great wave dashed up
and vaulted over the Cliff house building
The whole shore and cliff literally trembled
and shook as no earthquake had shaken the
earth for years. The people were rudely
thrown from their beds 5y the force of the
explosion. The furniture and heisteads were
,ossed and hesped about the ROOM
The famous cliff bOuse presents a scene be-
yond description. The west side of the build
ing, overlooking the ocean, is completely ru-
ined. aud is only held together b. the cross
beams: windows are smashed, doors twisted
off their hinges and left in a shattered cond-
tiOn, and what is left Of the house If il does
not toppe over into the ocean will have 10 be
torn to pieces
THE CREW ALL SAFE.
As nothing had been seen or heard of the
captain and crew OF the schooner up to dav-
light fears were entertained as 10 their safe
". These, however, were dispelled ON their
arrival this morning on the ferry boat from
SauceiitO. On their taking To tie small boat
tie tide was so strong that they were carried
10 Saucclito before they could make landing
The captain could not be seen. but Peter
Hanson, one OF the ~camen. made the follow
ing statement Tonight: "Nhen the captain
realized the danger o. b;s pos. ton he east an
chOr but II would not hold Soon the SchOOn-
sr StrJr';. and. know inls the dangerous chaTac-
ter of the carcn. he ordered cut the boat
and we all left the yesse.. As it was imDOssi-
bic 10 make the landing through the surf the
captain ordered the boat headed for the Col
len Gate and the tide carried Us 10 Saucelito.n
HEARD \ HUNDRED MILES.
The Powder was shipped by Bandman, Neil
son & Co, of this city and intended for rail
road construction purposes.
The vessel was literally obliterated. few
pieces of floating wrecbage being all that can
be seen. She was valued at 5000 aud owned
by s. 3. Peterson. Of this ely, and insured for
S5.j1l.
The explosion was distinctly heard Mt Oak
land. San Jose. and even as FAR as Sacramento.
distance of over 100 miles. Captain Jordan,
OF the ship Commodore, which arrived to-day
from Port Discovery, SAYS that they felt the
shoe, fifteen miles ou. at sea. The injured
life saving men are progressing fayJiably.